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How old is the tank? I never scrubbed my back glass because in time itll be covered in coralline algae
I tried that, but then they don't eat up the algae on my rocks. I scrapped the back glass and now they are hard at work clearing the DT.I tend to let it grow on the back wall...... gives everyone something to eat.
I let my back glass go.....don’t clean it. My Coral Beauty enjoys to nibble on it, and so does my Tuxedo Urchin I don’t mind how it looks at all. I use a canister filter, an HOB filter, and an HOB protein skimmer, so it hides some of the wires as well.
None other than moving your frags around like any urchin will, if they are not glued down. Urchins scrub the rocks clean. I have had them in both of my acrylic tanks and have had no issues. They do need algae to eat. If you have none they will starve.So I was thinking about getting an urchin(Black Long spine urchin) as part of my CUC. How is it? Any concerns keeping it in an aquarium?
So I was thinking about getting an urchin(Black Long spine urchin) as part of my CUC. How is it? Any concerns keeping it in an aquarium?
If it was my tank, I would identify the nutrients feeding the algae and the source of the nutrients:
1. Check PO4(Phosphate) and NO3 (Nitrates). These are nutrients that feed algae. If elevated, try weekly water changes over several weeks and monitor for a reduction of those nutrients.
2. Do you run a sump? If so, does it have a refugium? Refugiums are great; very simply, you promote algae growth in the refugium so there are few nutrients left to feed the algae in the display tank. If you do not have a sump, there are many HOB ( Hang on Back) refugiums from which to choose.
3. Do you run a protein skimmer? Protein skimmers are the equivalent of a sewerage treatment plant. They remove fish waste from the water column BEFORE they can become nutrients that feed algae.
4. What is your light cycle? You could try reducing the number of hours the lights are on daily.
A picture of the algae your fighting with would be helpful. Not a closeup; preferably a whole tank shot that will allow us to see other things going on in the tank which could help solve the problem. Also, testing results for Ammonia and Nitrates.
I prefer the clean back wall as I think it gives it more 'depth' but its personal preference.
The Max S500 is similar to my 650 and I let the back wall get covered for 6 months before i cleaned it as I thought it might be beneficial to the system. It made the water cloudy but soon cleared up.
I clean mine about once every 3-4 weeks as soon as I see lots of little white specs appearing whatever they are, and then just get a long handled scraper. It only takes a few minutes and its clean again.